Soil remover for a washing machine



Jun 30, 1964 F. R. AMTHOR, JR., ETAL 3,138,946

SOIL REMOVER FOR A WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1962Jun 30. 1964 F. R. AMTHOR, JR, ETAL 3,138,946

SOIL REMOVER FOR A WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1962I nag INVENTORST r if: 1 jvuezza WW1. WwW

WE CZmi/w ail United States Patent SOIL REMQVER FOR A WASHING MACHINEFranklin R. Amthor, Jr., Manitowoc, and Floyd F.

Mueller, Two Rivers, Wis., assignors to Hamilton Manufacturing Company,Two Rivers, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 18, 1962, Ser.No. 210,745 9 Claims. (CI. 68-23) This invention relates to washingmachines, and more particularly to a soil or sediment remover for awashing machine.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novelsediment remover for a Washing machine having a spin cycle, whichassures ejection of heavy sediment or soil particles from the tub of themachine during the spin cycle.

Another object is to provide a sediment remover of the foregoingcharacter which employs a novel speed responsive valve means forcontrolling the operation thereof.

A more particular object is to provide a novel sediment remover for usein a washing machine having a spin cycle, wherein the combined forces ofgravity, inertia and suction are utilized to initiate and augmentejection of heavy sediment particles from the tub during the spin cycle.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying sheets of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with some parts inelevation, of a portion of an automatic washing machine employing asediment remover embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the valve portion of thesediment remover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an alternate valveconstruction for the sediment remover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing an alternateconstruction of a portion of the soil remover; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates a novel soil orsediment remover for use in a washing machine such as an automaticwasher having a tub and which employs a spin cycle for removing wash andrinse water from the tub. The present sediment remover is mounted on thebottom wall of the tub and comprises an annular trough underlying aplurality of annularly arranged openings in the bottom wall of the tub,through which heavy sediment and soil particles pass during the washingoperation where they are retained until the washer begins a spin cycle.

The trough is provided with an outlet and a novel speed responsive orcentrifugal valve means is provided for closing the outlet during thewashing operation and for opening the outlet when the tub reaches apredetermined speed of rotation during a spin cycle. As will bedescribed in detail hereinafter, two constructions of the speedresponsive valve means are contemplated, each of which comprises aflexible tubular member secured at one end to the trough outlet, andmeans for holding the tubular member in a bent or crimped position tothus normally close the outlet. Such means, which in one instancecornprises a spring and in another instance comprises a weight, areresponsive to the speed of rotation of the tub to permit or cause thetubular member to straighten out when the tub reaches a predeterminedspeed of rotation. Heavy sediment is thus positively ejected from thetrough for discharge through the outlet and tubular member.

A modified construction of the trough is also contemplated, whichcontributes to complete scavenging thereof during a spin cycle. In thisform of the invention, the bottom Wall of the trough is sloped towardthe outlet and the anular outer wall of the trough is eccentric withrespect to the axis of rotation of the tub, with the trough outletlocated at the point of greatest radial spacing from the axis ofrotation of the tub. Sediment particles in the trough are thereby urgedtoward the outlet due to both gravitational and centrifugal forces.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, a portion of an automatic washing machine isillustarted, which in this instance is shown as comprising an inner tub11 mounted on a transmission 12, and an outer tub or tank 13 having anoutlet 14 in its bottom wall and enclosing the tub 11. The tub 11 isshown as being secured to the transmission 12 by a ring of bolts 15extending through the bottom wall, indicated at 16, of the tub. Anagitator 17 having a vertically extending tubular portion 18 and a skirt21 is mounted in the tub 11 and connected to a post 22 extendingcentrally upwardly from the upper end of the transmission 12.

The tub 11 has a generally cylindrical sidewall 23 which tapersoutwardly from the bottom wall 16 toward its upper end, and a pluralityof openings (not shown) are provided around the upper end of the tub 11to permit wash and rinse water to be centrifuged out of the tub duringthe various spin cycles for discharge through the tank outlet 14.

The transmission 12 may be of the type that is adapted to receive powerfrom a reversible motor (not shown). The transmission 12, when driven inone direction by the motor, is effective to hold the tub 11 stationaryand cause the agitator 17 to oscillate, and when driven in the oppositedirection is effective to rotate the tub 11 at a speed sufficient todischarge liquid from the tub and effect drying of the clothes.Preferably, the tub is rotated at a low speed spin intermediate thewashing and rinsing cycles, and at a high speed spin for final drying.

With the foregoing construction, during a normal washing operation,heavy soil or sediment particles, such as sand, string, and the like,gravitate toward the bottom wall 16 of the tub 11 and, because of theirweight, may not be removed from the tub during the centrifugingoperation. With a soil remover embodying the features of the invention,such heavy sediment and soil particles are eliminated from the tub 11and collected during a washing operation, and are positively ejectedduring the centrifuging or spin cycle.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the soil remover of the invention isindicated generally at 30 and is mounted on the underside of the bottomwall 16'. The soil remover 31) comprises sediment collecting means inthe form of an annular trough 31 having an inwardly extending flange 32around its inner periphery and an outwardly extending flange 33 aroundits outer periphery. The flange 32 extends between the bottom wall 16 ofthe tub and the transmission 12 and is clamped therebetween by the bolts15 which secure the tub 11 to the transmission 12. Suitable gaskets 34are of course interposed between the flange 32 and transmission 12, andbetween the flange 32 and underside of the bottom wall 16. The outerflange 33 is held against the bottom of the tub by the stiifness of thetrough 31.

In order to permit dislodged sediment or soil particles to gravitateinto the trough 31, the bottom wall 16 is provided with a ring ofopenings 36 over the center of the trough 31. The openings 36, in thisinstance, are disposed beyond the outer periphery of the skirt 21 of theagitator so that heavy sediment particles gravitating downwardly andoutwardly across of the upper surface of the skirt will be deposited inthe vicinity of the openings t; 36 for the movement into the trough 31.Dislodged sediment or soil particles deposited on the bottom wall 16 aredirected into the openings 36 by currents in the wash water due to theaction of the agitator 17.

To prevent accumulation of sediment under the agitator and to assist indirecting sediment to the openings 36, the under surface of the agitatorskirt 21 may be provided with vanes or fins 37. In the present instance,three circumferentially spaced fins 37 are provided, only one of whichis shown in FIG. 1.

To dispose of the sediment collected in the trough 31, the soil remover30 includes an outlet in the form of a pipe 38 which extendstangentially from the trough 31 and in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of the tub 11, during the spin cycle as indicatedin FIG. 2. The disposition of the pipe 38 outwardly of the outer wall ofthe trough 31 causes sediment to shift toward and into the pipe 38 forejection therefrom.

Opening and closing of the pipe 38 is controlled by a novel speedresponsive or centrifugal valve means 49. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, thevalve means 40 comprises a flexible tubular member 41 in the form of alength of hose, secured at one end 42 to pipe 38. Means in the form of aspring 44 is provided for normally maintaining the outer portion,indicated at 45, of the hose 41 in a bent or crimped position, asillustrated in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, to thereby close the pipe38. The spring 44 may be of any desired type, but in the drawing isshown as an elongated flat band or leaf having integrally formed collars46 and 47 at each end thereof for connecting the spring to the hose 41.The spring 44 is initially formed with a set to maintain the hose 41bent against its natural resiliency. The inner collar 46 is providedwith screw 48 for securing the spring 44 to the hose and for maintainingthe hose 41 connected to the outlet pipe 38. The hose 41 is preferablymade of Neoprene or plastic material such as Delrin, Nylon or Teflon soas to withstand temperature and frequent flexing.

The spring 44 is sufiiciently strong so as to maintain the outlet pipe38 crimped or bent and hence ciosed throughout the washing cycle of themachine. However, the spring 44 will yield under the centrifugal forceof the bent portion 45 of the hose to permit the hose to straighten whenthe tub 11 reaches a predetermined speed of rotation. Thus, as the tub11 begins to spin, the hose begins to straighten until, at apredetermined rotational speed such as about 40 to 80 rpm. less than thelow speed spin and about 260 rpm. less than the high speed spin, theportion 45 of the hose becomes substantially aligned with the outletpipe 38 Such position is indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The hose41 is thus completely unobstructed and a rapid flow of water is obta nedtherethrough which carries the trapped sediment and soil particles outof the trough 31 and pipe 38 and into the tank 13 for discharge throughthe outlet 14.

As previously noted, the outlet pipe 38 and hence the hose 41 extend ina tangential direction opposite to that of the direction of rotation ofthe tub 11. The foregoing relationship of the pipe 38 and hose 41 isadvantageous to complete flush ng of the trough 31 in that a suctionforce is developed at the outer end of the hose due to the aspiratingeffect of the air stream moving past the straightened remote open end ofthe hose when the tub 11 is rotating at high speed. The combination ofthe centrifugal and suction forces thus results in a rapid and completeflushing of the trough 31 and any sediment trapped therein.

In FIG. 3 an alternate speed responsive or centrifugal valve means 50 isillustrated for effecting opening of the trough outlet pipe 33 when thetub 11 reaches a predetermined speed of rotation. The valve means 59 islike the valve means 40 in that it comprises a flexible tubular member41 in the form of a length of hose secured at its inner end 42 by aclamp ring 51 to the trough outiet pipe 38. The valve means 50 differsfrom valve means 40 in the manner in which the outer portion of the hose41 is maintained in a bent or crirnped position before centrifuging.

Thus, instead of a spring, the valve means includes a weight in the formof a collar 52 secured to the remote outer end of the portion 45 of thehose so as to cause the latter to be bent downwardly to the full lineposition illustrated in FIG. 3 and thus close the outlet pipe 38. Theweight of the collar 52 is also such that, when the tub 11 is in a spincycle, the centrifugal force acting on the collar will cause it to moveto its dotted line position, thereby straightening the hose 41 andopening the outlet pipe 38. Water and heavy sediment will thus beejected through the hose 41 in the manner of the valve means 4 3. Thesuction force at the open end of the hose .1 also assists in ejection ofsediment in the same manner as in the valve means 40.

It will thus be appreciated that by utilizing a speed responsive valvemeans, such as the valve means 40 or 50, in conjunction with thesediment collecting trough 31 for controlling the opening of thetangential outlet pipe 33 thereof, an efiicient and positive system isobtained for assuring rapid scavenging of the trough and any sediment orsoil particles therein.

While the flow of liquid in the trough 31 when the outlet pipe 38 isopen may be suificient to carry away all sediment collected in thetrough, it may be desirable to so form the trough that completeevacuation of the trough 31 of all sediment or soil particles isassured. T 0 this end, a modified trough construction 61, illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, may be employed. The trough 61 is similar to the trough31 in that it is annular in form and is secured to the tub in the samemanner as the trough 31.

The trough 61 differs from the trough 31 in that its bottom wall '66slopes downwardly toward the outlet pipe 33 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 4. Such an arrrangement will cause heavy sediment or soil particlesentering the trough through the various openings 36 in the tub 11 togravitate toward the outlet pipe 38 and remain in the vicinity of theoutlet for ejection from the trough when the outlet is opened. Thesloping bottom wall 66 thus contributes to the overall efiiciency of thesoil remover.

To further contribute to a complete scavenging of the trough 61, thelater also employs an eccentric arrangement of its outer wall 67 withrespect to its inter wall 68 and the axis of rotation of the trough.Thus, as will be apparent from FIG. 5, the outlet pipe 38 is located inthe' outer wall 67 so that the point in the trough which opens into theoutlet pipe 38 is radially farther from the axis of rotation of the tub11 than any other point in the trough 61. Such form of trough furthercontributes to movement of sediment or soil particles toward the outletpipe 38 due to the increased centrifugal force acting on the liquid inthe trough and the particles therein.

It will be understood that either the valve means 40 or the valve means59 may be used with either the trough 31 or the trough 61, and that atrough employing either a sloping bottom wall 66 or eccentric sidewall67 or both, as in the case of the trough 61, could be utilized witheither valve means.

We claim:

1. in a washing machine including a rotatable tub having a bottom walland an opening therein, a sediment remover comprising collecting meansdisposed below the botom wall of said tub with a portion thereofunderlying said opening, said collecting means having an outlet fordischarging sediment therefrom, a flexible tubular member extending fromsaid outlet, and means for hold" ing said tubular member in a bentposition and preventing fluid flow therethrough, said holding meansbeing effective to permit said tubular member to straighten when saidtub reaches a predetermined speed of rotation whereby accumulatedsediment from said collecting :3 means will be ejected through saidoutlet and said tubular member.

2. A sediment remover according to claim 1, in which said tub has anannular series of openings in its bottom Wall, and said collecting meanscomprises a trough underlying said openings.

3. A sediment remover according to claim 2, in which said troughincludes a pipe extending generally tangentially outwardly from saidtrough outlet in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation ofsaid drum, said tubular member being secured at said one end to saidpipe.

4. A sediment remover according to claim 3, in which said tubular memberwhen straightened is substantially aligned with said pipe whereby asuction force is developed at the end of said tubular member duringrotation of said tub.

5. A sediment remover according to claim 4, in which said flexibletubular member comprises a length of hose.

6. In a washing machine including a rotatable tub having a bottom walland an annular series of openings therein, a sediment remover comprisinga trough disposed below the bottom wall of said tub and underlying saidopenings, said trough having a pipe extending outwardly therefrom anddefining an outlet for discharging sediment therefrom, a flexibletubular member secured to said pipe, and a spring secured to saidtubular member for holding the latter in a bent position to preventfluid flow therethrough, said spring being adapted to permit saidtubular member to straighten when said tub reaches a predetermined speedof rotation whereby accumulated sediment will be ejected from saidtrough.

7. A sediment remover according to claim 6, in which said tubular memberand spring are arranged for movement in a plane perpendicular to theaXis of rotation of said tub.

8. A sediment remover according to'claim 6, in which said spring isprovided with a collar at each end to connect said spring to saidtubular member, one of said collars clamping said spring and tubularmember to said pipe.

9. A sediment remover according to claim 1, in which said means forholding said tubular member in a bent position comprises a weightsecured to the outer end of the tubular member for bending said tubularmember downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,375,635 Dyer May 8, 1945 2,470,140 Castner May 17, 1949 2,633,727 RothApr. 7, 1953 2,973,637 Sisson Mar. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 503,691Canada June 15, 1954 543,560 Canada July 16, 1957

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING A ROTATABLE TUB HAVING A BOTTOM WALLAND AN OPENING THEREIN, A SEDIMENT REMOVER COMPRISING COLLECTING MEANSDISPOSED BELOW THE BOTTOM WALL OF SAID TUB WITH A PORTION THEREOFUNDERLYING SAID OPENING, SAID COLLECTING MEANS HAVING AN OUTLET FORDISCHARGING SEDIMENT THEREFROM, A FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING FROMSAID OUTLET, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER IN A BENTPOSITION AND PREVENTING FLUID FLOW THERETHROUGH, SAID HOLDING MEANSBEING EFFECTIVE TO PERMIT SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO STRAIGHTEN WHEN SAIDTUB REACHES A PREDETERMINED SPEED OF ROTATION WHEREBY ACCUMULATEDSEDIMENT FROM SAID COLLECTING MEANS WILL BE EJECTED THROUGH SAID OUTLETAND SAID TUBULAR MEMBER.